Method and apparatus for applying asbestos to wire



5-1; H, 1946. K. A. FALCONER 2,430,815

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ASBESTOS TO WIRE iled Oct. i0, 1942 4She ets-Sheet 1 NW. 12, 1946. K. A. FALCONER 2,410,815

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ASBESTOS TO WIRE Filed Oct. 10, 1942 4Sheets-Sheet 2 mvsn-ron NOW 1946- K. A. FALCONER 2,410,815

METHOD APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ASBESTOS To wIRE Filed Oct. 10, 1942 4Sheets-Sheet s INVEN'IOR Nov. 12, 1946.

- K. A. FALCON ER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ASBESTOS TO WIREFiled Oct. 10,- 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NN N COER,

Patented Nov. 12,1946

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ASBESTOS 1'0 WIRE Kenneth A. Faiconer,Auburn, Mass.

Application @ctober 10, 1942, Serial No. 461,596

' 8 Claims. (Ci. 57

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus forapplying fibrous material to an advancing wire and more particularly toapplying asbestos fibers to an electric conductor and the like, animportant object being to provide a practical method and apparatus forwinding a fleece of asbestos fibers about an advancing conductorimmediately after such a fleece of fibers has been stripped from thedoffer roll of a conventional form of carding machine. An importantobject of the invention is to provide eifective means for coiling afibrous fleece around an advancing conductor without destroying thenormal disposition of the fibers in the fleece which are arranged insubstantially parallel relation by the carding machine, it being aparticular object of the present invention to preserve the parallelrelationship of the fibers. sense, this is regarded of importance sincethe density of the fleece is maintained by virtue of the fact that thefibers are not disentangled.

A particular problem encountered in the wrapping of a fleece about anadvancing wire or conductor is involved because such an asbestos fibrousfleece coming from a carding machine is inherently weak and incapable ofwithstanding any substantial tension. To this end I aim to interposeconveying means between the doflfer roll of the carding engine and ahollow rotary cone which is adapted to coil the fibrous fleece aroundthe conductor.

It is broadly old in the prior art relating to means for coveringelectric conductorsto provide means for transferring a fibroussheet-like fleece of cotton directly from a carding machine to arotatable device adapted to apply such fleece to the conductor. Suchidea is broadly shown in an ,old patent granted to John Robinson, No.529,411, dated November 20, 1894, but so far as I am aware, theapparatus of the Robinson patent has never been successfullydemonstrated and experience has shown that apparatus which 2 27, 1938.The present invention aims to improve over this practice by preservingthe parallel relationship of the fibers in the fleece imparted theretoby the usual clothing of the doifer roll In a practical workssatisfactorily with cotton will not necessarily suit when handlingasbestos fibers. For

handling asbestos fibers I deem it highly desir-able to interposetransferring means between the carding machine and the device whichapplies the fleece to the conductor. It has been heretofore proposed tostrip asbestos fibers from the dofier roll of a carding machine todestroy of the carding mechanism.

As will be more fully apparent as the description proceeds, the presentinvention provides an improved method involving advancing a conductorlengthwise while continuously feeding a sheet-like fleece of looselyassociated substantially parallel fibers of asbestos in a directionapproximately normal of the line of travel of the conductor, exerting acombined longitudinal and centripetal force on the fleece whereby it isboth compressed circularly and advanced longitudinally, but beingsupported out of contact with the advancing wire, whereupon the thusapplied fleece is further compressed and condensed directly around andin contact with the wire in such a way that the substantially parallelassociation of the fibers of the fleece is not disrupted to any materialextent, thus the density of the fleece is not lessened by fiberdisentanglement as contemplated in the above mentioned Obermaier patent.The invention also consists further in the provision of a novelcombination of mutually interdependent instrumentalities eflective tocarry out the method above described.

For complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made tothe accompanying drawings, the following detailed disclosure and theappended claims. In the drawings:

Figure 1- is a plan view of the principal parts of:

apparatus for carrying out the novel method;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a section on line III-HI of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view similar to Figure l illustrating a modification;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a part shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line VI-VI of Figure 41 Figure 7is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a modification includingpneumatic means for buoyantly supporting the fibrous fleece;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2,ishowing the front elevation ofthe parts illustrated in Figure 7.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a cable or electric conductorwire'such as indicated at w in the drawings is adapted to be withdrawnfrom a supply reelill by meansyof a draw-oil drum 12 carried by a shafti4 driven from any suitable source of power. The drum I2 is effective tofeed or advance the wire or cable w longitudinally in a continuousmanner in juxtaposition to the peripheral surface of the dofier roll [6of a conventional form of carding mechanism which is provided on itsexterior with conventional fine wire teeth I8 known as the cardingclothing. The carding machine has delivered thereto a supply of asbestosfibers in suitable form. This fibrous supply is acted upon in theconventional manner by the carding machine so as to produce a sheet-likefleece of asbestos in such a way that the elemental fibers thereof arearranged in substantial parallelism. This asbestos sheet-like fleece isstripped from the doifer roll i6 by a coning 26. Since this vibratingmechanism constitutes no part of the present invention, it is notfurther illustrated, suflice to say, that motion is transmitted theretoby a pulley 28 operably. connected in'any suitable manner with thecarding mechanism drive. I

A hollow cone-like member 30 is secured to the extremity of a hollowsleeve 32 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 34, thesleeve being continuously rotated by a pulley 36 connected in anysuitable manner with the drive for the carding machine. As the cardingmachine is operated it will be understood that the comb 20 abovereferred to will be intermittently vibrated and the cone will becontinuously revolved. The sleeve 32 and cone 30 are provided with analigned axial passageway 38 through which the wire or cable 10 isadvanced longitudinally. In

the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, asthe fleece is stripped from the doffer roll [8 it is received by atransfer member 40. Thus there is no haphazard dropping of fibers astaught by the Obermaier patent, nor is there any disentanglement, itbeing a particular feature of the present invention to provide anoperative means for transferring the fleece with the fibers thereof inthe same parallel relationship which they occupy while on the dofierroll of the carding machine. In this embodiment of the invention thetransfer member 40 takes the form of a rotating cylinder of smalldiameter which turns in a'direction opposite to the direction ofrotation of the dofier roll It? as will be apparent from the arrows inFigure 3. This transfer member 40 carries a spur gear 42 which mesheswith a similar gear 44 secured to the sleeve 32. Thus it'is apparentthat the transfer member 40 rotates in a direction opposite to thedirection of rotation of the cone 30 as indicated by the arrows inFigure 3.

The rotary motion of the transfer member '0 delivers the fleece to thelower portion of the rapidly rotating cone 30. The action is such thatthe frictional drag imparts a centripetal force to the fibers of thefleece, thus tending to draw them inwardly toward the axis of rotationof the cone while at the same time the rotary motion of the cone tendsto advance the fleece longitudinally in the same direction as that inwhich the conductor is traveling under influence of the wire feedingaction exerted by the capstan i2.

Located in juxtaposition to the small end of the cone 30 there isrotatably mounted a whirler die 45 mounted in suitable bearings anddriven from any suitable source of power. This whirler die has a centralopening 48 therein which converges in the direction of travel of theadvancing wire. The rotary action of this whirler die is effective tocompress the fibers of the fleece circularly aroundthe exterior of theadvancing conductor and also to influence the longitudinal motion of thefibers covering the wire. In Figure 3 of the drawings the stippleshowing is an attempt to illustrate the action of stripping the fleecefrom thedofier roll and supporting it while en route therefrom over thetransfer member 40 to the rotating hollow cone which is effective tocause an initial compression and impart at least some degree oflongitudinal feeding movement to the fibrous mass. It is to beunderstood, however, that the feeding movement of the fibrous mass, onceit is arranged in wrapped relationship to the advancing conductor, iseffected jointly by the cooperation of the rotating cone, and therotating whirler die 46 in cooperation with the feeding movementimparted by the rotating capstan l2.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 4, and 6, the parts cooperatein substantially the same manner as above set forth with the excepthemeans for transferring the fibrous fleece from the doffer roll l6 to therotating cone comprises a conveyor belt 5|]- which is trained aroundsupporting pulleys 52 and 54. Mounted on the supporting shaft for thepulley 54 there is also a pulley 56 which is connected by a crossed belt58 with a pulley 59 secured to the sleeve 32. As thus arranged it isapparent that as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6 when the conerotates clockwise the pulleys 52 and 54 will be driven incounterclockwise direction, thus causing the upper stretch of theconveyor belt 50 to travel in a proper direction from a region adjacentthe doffer roll toward the rotating cone 30 so as to thus effectivelysupport the flimsy fibrous fleece and positively feed it into a positionfor cooperative engagement with the rotating cone.

In the modification shown in Figure 7 the parts are arranged as inFigure 3, but in addition thereto, I here provide pneumatic means forbuoyantly supporting the fleece while it is being transferred from theconveyor member 40 to the underside of the rotating cone 30. To this endI have shown in this figure a plurality of parallel pipes which 50 areapproximately coextensive in length with the cone 30, the pipes beingconnected with a header 62 leading to a suitable sourceof compressedair, the upper portions of the pipes being perforated so as to permitthe emission of air jets 64 therefrom. In this modification I have alsoillustrated an air pipe 56, the outlet orifice 68 of which is in theform of a nozzle located near the butt or large end of the cone 30. Thepipe 66 is connected with the same source of supply as that to which thepipes B0 are connected and the function of the jet of air dischargedfrom the nozzle is to assist in advancing the flimsy fibrous fleecelongitudinally along the rotating cone 30. It is to be understood thatthe mechanism described can be operated without the use of the pneumaticmeans shown in the modification of Figures 7 and 8 and the use of thispneumatic means is contemplated chiefly when applying relatively heavyfibrous coating to the advancing 70 conductor.

While I have described quite precisely a preferred method and apparatus,the practicability of which has been demonstrated in practice on acommercial scale, it is not to be construed that I am limited theretosince various modifications tion that in this embodiment of theinvention.

, and a rotary die havinga central bore therein parallel fibers ofasbestos in a direction approximately normal to the line of travel ofsaid conductor, exerting a combined longitudinal and centripetal forceon the fleece whereby it is compressed circularly and advancedlongitudinally While supported out of contact with the advancing wireand then circularly compressing the thus condensed fibrous mass directlyaround the wire whereby the substantially parallel association of thefibers of the fleece is not disrupted to any material extent so that thedensity of the fleece is not lessened by fiber disentanglement.

2. Apparatus for applying asbestos 'flber to an electric conductorcomprising means for advancing the conductor lengthwise, carding meansfor forming a fleece of asbestos whose fibers are disposed insubstantially parallel relations, a means interposed between the cardingmeans and the traveling conductor for supporting and transverselyfeeding the fleece as it is delivered by the carding means, a hollowrotary member through which the conductor'is fed effective to coil thefleece and advance it longitudinally about the advancing conductor whileout of contact therewith, and means for compressing the fibrous fleeceabout the advancing conductor.

3. Apparatus for applying asbestos fiber to an electric conductorcomprising means for. advancing the conductor lengthwise, carding meansfor forming a fleece of asbestos whose fibers are disposed insubstantially parallel relation, a means interposed between the cardingmeans and the traveling conductor for supporting and transverselyfeeding the fleece as it is delivered by the carding means, a hollowrotary memberthrough which the conductor is fed effective to coil thefleece and advance it longitudinally about the advancing conductor whileout of contact therewith, and a rotating die having a converging boreeffective to compress the fibrous fleece about the advancing conductor.1

4. Apparatus for applying asbestos fiber to an electric conductorcomprising means for advancing the conductor lengthwise, carding meansfor forming a fleece of asbestos whose fibers are disposed insubstantially parallel relation, transfer means for positively feedingsaid fleece transversely of the line, of travel of said conductor, ahollow rotary cone through which the conductor travels eflective by itsrotary motion to coil the fleece received from the "transfer means andto exert a longitudinal feeding movement thereto,

converging in the direction of travel of the conductor and eflective tocompress the fibers of the fleece about the conductor whereby thesubstantially' parallel association ofthe fibers of the fleece is notdisrupted to any material extent byv disentanglement.

5. Apparatus for applying asbestos fiber to an electric conductorcomprising means for advancing the conductor lengthwise, carding meansfor forming a fleece of asbestos whose fibers are disposed insubstantially parallel relation, means interposed between the cardingmeans and the advancing conductor for positively supporting the fleeceas it is delivered by said carding means, a hollow rotary member throughwhich the con-, ductor is fed efiective to c'oil, the fleece and advanceit longitudinally about the advancing conductor while out of contacttherewith, and means for compressing the fibrous mass of the fleeceabout the advancing conductor.

6. Apparatus for applying asbestos fiber to an electric conductorcomprising means forv advancing the conductor lengthwise, carding meansfor forming a fleece of asbestos whose fibers are disposed insubstantially parallel relation, a positively driven conveyor meansinterposed between the carding means and the advancing-conductor forsupporting the fleece as it is being delivered by said carding means, ahollow rotary member through which the conductor is fed effective tocoil the fleece and advance it longitudinally about the advancingconductor while out of contact therewith, and means for compressing thefibrous fleece'about the advancing conductor.

7. Apparatus for applying asbestos fiber to an a electric conductorcomprising means for advancing the conductor lengthwise, carding meansfor forming a fleece of asbestos whose fibers are disposed insubstantially parallel relation, means for stripping thefleece from thecarding means, and pneumatic means for maintaining a stratum of airbelow the advancing conductor effective to buoyantly support the fleece.as it is being stripped from said carding means.

8. An apparatus'of the class described com-- prising, means forlongitudinally advancing a wire, means for feeding a fleece of looselyassociated substantially parallel fibers in a direction approximatelynormal to the line of travel of said wire, a rotary hollow memberthrough which the wire passes and which is effective to coil said fleeceand advance it longitudinally, means for pneumatically supporting thefleece while it is en route to said hollow member and rotary means forcompressing the fibrous fleece about,

from said rotary hollow the wire as it emerges member.

KENNETH A. FALCONER.

